Introduction

Despite numerous predictions to the contrary, Russia emerged intact from the chaotic turbulence of the post-Soviet 1990s. Characterizations of Russia’s political and economic condition, however, range all over the map: Russia as a successfully established market economy versus Russia as an impoverished basket case; Russia as a fledgling but stable democracy versus Russia as a country falling into the throes of soft authoritarianism; Russia as a beneficiary of smart U.S. and international policy versus Russia “lost.” Most analyses, however, agree that despite a veneer of political stability, a considerable portion of Russian society remains in turmoil. Many Russians’ economic and social circumstances are still shattered by the loss of the Soviet-era social safety net.